274 THE EVOLUTION OF A MOTHER. 



and below that level in a like degree. Then comes a 

 gradual change. When we pass on to the Reptiles, 

 the figures fall into hundreds. On reaching the birds 

 the young are to be counted by tens or units. In the 

 highest of Mammals the rule is one. This bringing 

 down of the numbers is a remarkable circumstance. 

 It means the calling in of a diffused care, to focus it 

 upon one, and concentrate it into Love. 



The next thing was to make it possible for the par 

 ent to recognize its young. If it was difficult to love 

 a million it was impossible to love an embryo. In the 

 lower reaches the young are never in the smallest 

 degree like their parents, and, granting the highest 

 power of recognition to the Mother, it is impossible 

 that she should recognize her own offspring. For 

 generations even Science was imposed upon here, for 

 many forms of life were described and classified as 

 distinct species which have turned out to be simply 

 the young of other species. It may be useless to con 

 trast so striking a case as the ciliated Planula with 

 the adult Aurelia vagaries of form which for gen 

 erations deceived the naturalist for it is doubtful 

 whether creatures of the Medusoid type have eyes ; 

 but in the higher groups, where power of recognition 

 is more certain, the unlikeness of progeny to parent is 

 often as decided. The larval forms of the Star fish, 

 or the Sea Urchin, or their kinsman the Holothurian 

 are disguised past all recognition ; and among the 

 Insects the relation between Butterflies and Moths 

 and their respective caterpillars is beyond any possible 

 clue. No doubt there are other modes of recognition 

 in Nature than those which depend on the sense of 

 sight. But looked at on every side, the fact remains 



